Frequently Asked Questions

National Nutrition Week is observed every year from 9 to 15 October to raise awareness about good nutrition and encourage action that helps South Africans enjoy healthier diets and better health throughout life.

The foods we eat are influenced by what is available, affordable, accessible and promoted around us. Creating healthier food environments helps make healthy choices easier for everyone, whether at home, school, work or in the community.

A food environment refers to the physical, economic, social and policy conditions that influence the foods people can access, afford, choose and consume. It includes the foods available in homes, schools, early childhood development centres, workplaces, shops, restaurants and communities, as well as how foods are marketed, priced and promoted.

A healthy food environment is one where safe, nutritious and affordable foods and drinking water are readily available, while foods high in salt, sugar and fats are less available, less promoted and less frequently chosen.

South Africa continues to experience the triple burden of malnutrition:

1. undernutrition
2. micronutrient deficiencies
3. overweight and obesity and diet-related NCDs

Many communities also struggle with food insecurity while unhealthy foods are widely available. Creating healthier food environments helps address these challenges.

Everyone has a role:

1. Government develops supportive policies.
2. Schools and ECD centres provide healthy meals.
3. Employers create healthy workplaces.
4. Food manufacturers, retailers and informal traders improve healthy food availability.
5. Health professionals provide nutrition guidance.
6. Families and communities encourage healthy eating.
7. Individuals make healthier food choices whenever possible

Good nutrition from pregnancy until a child's second birthday supports healthy growth, brain development and lifelong health. Healthy food environments should protect breastfeeding and ensure access to nutritious complementary foods.

Families can:

1. Prepare healthy meals together.
2. Eat more vegetables, fruit, beans and whole grains.
3. Drink water instead of sugary drinks. (Make water the family drink)
4. Limit foods high in salt, sugar and fats.
5. Support breastfeeding.
6. Grow food where possible.
7. Reduce food waste.

Schools can:

1. Promote healthy lunchboxes.
2. Support school nutrition programmes.
3. Make water easily available.
4. Develop school food gardens.
5. Limit unhealthy foods sold at school.
6. Teach healthy eating.

Not necessarily. Many nutritious foods, such as beans, lentils, seasonal fruit and vegetables, whole grains, eggs and locally produced foods, can be affordable and provide excellent nutritional value. Planning meals, buying seasonal produce, reducing food waste, and preparing meals at home can also help families eat healthily while staying within their budget. Creating healthier food environments also means improving the availability and affordability of nutritious foods for everyone.

Manufacturers play a crucial role in shaping the food supply by reformulating products to reduce added sugars, sodium and saturated fats while increasing fibre and essential nutrients; providing clear nutrition labelling; offering appropriate portion sizes; limiting the marketing of unhealthy foods to children; and investing in affordable, nutritious products. Retailers help shape food choices by increasing the availability and visibility of healthy foods, offering affordable nutritious options, promoting drinking water, supporting clear food labelling, sourcing local produce where possible, and responsibly marketing foods, particularly those consumed by children.

Informal traders are an important part of South Africa's food system and often provide affordable food close to where people live and work. They can contribute to healthier food environments by offering more nutritious food options such as fresh fruit and vegetables, preparing and handling food safely, promoting water instead of sugary drinks, and supporting local farmers by sourcing locally produced foods where possible. Supporting informal traders to improve access to healthy foods can strengthen nutrition, food security and local livelihoods.

Municipalities and local government play a vital role in creating healthier communities by ensuring healthy food is available, accessible and safe. They can support household and community food gardens, local farmers' markets, access to safe drinking water, and food safety through environmental health services. They can also promote healthy food in municipal facilities and public events, support informal traders selling nutritious foods, and work with schools and communities to encourage healthy eating. By integrating nutrition into local planning, municipalities can make healthy choices easier for everyone

Everyone can:

1. Support breastfeeding.
2. Choose water more often.
3. Eat more minimally processed foods.
4. Buy local and seasonal produce.
5. Read food labels.
6. Support household and community food gardens.
7. Reduce food waste.
8. Encourage healthy food choices at home, school, work and in the community.